Abu Ali Ibn Sina is a well-known personality among the
physicians of Unani medicine and scientists of physical sciences since
medieval times. To commemorate and to institutionalize an academy named
after him, Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine & Sciences was
founded on March 1, 2000. The Academy has been registered under Indian
Trusts Act, 1882 and was formally inaugurated on April 20, 2001.
Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of
India gave accreditation to the academy in 2004 and promoted it as
‘Centre of Excellence’ in 2008. The Academy is now a non-governmental,
non-political and non-profit organization with multiple aims and
objectives.

The Idea of the Formation of the Academy

There is a consensus amongst researchers of the history
of medicine & sciences that physicians and scientists of medieval era
had played a very important role in the development of natural and
medical sciences during the renaissance of Islamic civilization, which
spanned over eight centuries. This was achieved through translating
earlier medical and scientific sources and developing then known sciences
in the light of their clinical and scientific expertise. Despite the
above fact, it is well-known that the full potential of the Islamic
medical and scientific work, particularly, heritage has not been
investigated exhaustively to-date its basic role and importance in the
development of modern medicine and its effect on the European
Renaissance. Most of the manuscripts of Islamic medieval medicine are
lying unutilized on the shelves of private and some public libraries
around the world and only few have been studied comprehensively. In the
light of this, a number of physicians, scientists, scholars and historians
are called for reviving this heritage on a national level. This is to be
achieved through organization and teamwork. And this is how the idea to
found the Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine & Sciences (IAMMS)
emerged. The first meeting of the Academy was held on March 5, 2000 in
Aligarh (India) and was chaired by Professor (Hakim) Syed Zillur Rahman,
Founder President of IAMMS. A number of physicians and historians
attended this meeting. The second meeting of the Academy was held on
April 8, 2001 in Aligarh, when the By-Laws were discussed and approved.
It was also decided that Aligarh would be the permanent location of the
Academy and it would operate as a normal registered trust as well.
Membership of the Academy is open to everyone who has an interest in or
would like to contribute by studying the History of Medieval Medicine and
Sciences. The Academy looks forward to receiving support and help from
all scholars and researchers in India and all over the world.